BRICKS launches Yu Shu Earthquake appeal

Updates on Jinde’s work will be posted here

The 6.9 earthquake which struck North West China’s Qing Hai Province on 14^th April caused 2,183 deaths and has left tens of thousands homeless in terribly harsh conditions. Initially the scale of the disaster seemed much smaller but in the last few days both the extent of the losses and the possibility of helping have become clear.

After the initial emergency phase many NGO’s are beginning to work alongside the government effort to attend to the needs of the disaster victims. The logistics of this effort are daunting. For a flavour of the challenge, even a tour agent’s copy, written before the earthquake cannot disguise the rugged environment.

“Living conditions are harsh as winters are long and cold. Snow can fall in these counties well into summer. These areas average over 270 freezing days per year. Due to the high altitude and freezing temperatures little can grow in this area. China Culture Center

High altitude also brings issues of associated altitude sickness while language and cultural differences (Yu shu i s a Tibetan minority area) makes cooperation with Chinese from other parts of the country difficult. Despite the relatively small scale of the disaster, the relief effort is complex and even hazardous to the helper as well as the ones helped.

Jinde Charties together with Xian Social Service Centre sent an advance team to Yushu and has already begun a relief programme in Saimei Camp. Jiegu (Gyegu) Township. This camp is located on grasslands normally reserved for one of the Tibetan minority’s most important horse festivals. It is now home to a quarter of Jiegu township’s residents. After the earthquake, which practically flattened the town, some residents were transferred to the relative safety of the festival site, Basic facilities have been provided but Jinde has identified this camp as a locale requiring further support. They have identified a need and the first deliveries of relief goods have already taking place. This response will gather phase in the next few days as the new base in Xining, (Qinghai’s provincial capital) begins sending regular convoys south to Yushu.

As well as distributions of relief goods, a significant development is the deployment of Sisters trained in the counselling of traumatized victims. First developed during the Sichuan earthquake disaster, Jinde now has available a pool of Sisters experienced in responding to the complex emotional needs of people who appear to have no physical injuries.

Updates on Jinde’s work will be posted here

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at 11:26 pm and is filed under PROJECTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.